Re: Quantity vs. Quality

[Pierre Roberge <proberge -at- FAMICTECH -dot- COM>]

Kate replied:


> I shudder to think of a manager who can't assess a writer's
> ability using on-the-spot writing tests for evaluation. If
> the manager can't tell what's good or not anyway, what point
> is there in evaluating a writing sample, even if it's fresh?
>
Of course, I meant asking a candidate to write something and having his/her
text read by someone who knows about technical writing is a better idea than
having a manager who knows nothing about technical writing count the years
of experience a writer has.

> Evaluating writing samples can be tricky business, no doubt,
> but I notice when someone does it well. I feel that a manager
> can gain one heck of a lot more insight about a candidate in
> most cases by asking the right questions about the sample than
> s/he can by actually reading it. Most writers have a lot to
> say about the projects in which they've been involved, and if
> they don't, I want to know why.
>
Interesting point.

> Besides, the pressure of interviewing differs significantly
> from the pressure I expect a writer to feel during a normal
> project. Thus, I wouldn't trust an on-the-spot writing test
> to result in a representative sample of the writer's ability.
>
I think interview tests are good if you compare the results among testees
(?) and not with your writers' best projects.  I think technical writing is
a way of thinking and that it can be demonstrated easily even if the person
writes only 15 lines in 15 minutes under pressure.

Pierre Roberge
Technical writer
Famic Technologies 2000

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